Surviving Reality


For many…

Even as winter ends, cold persists,
morning awakenings continue to endure
shadows of the past.

And then there are those…

Whose good wishes collapse mute,
bouquet openings continue filling
but empty vases.

For some…

Hesitant proposals
must forever pretend.
Intimate whispers convey
but the resonance of silence.

Yet…

The simple music
of children’s laughter,
the comforting essence
of rose petals beneath one’s touch,
even the lure of still water’s modesty,
enjoin to accept failures of the past,
wash clean vexatious memory’s aftertaste.

And…

When regret finds no escape,
and shackles of blame
hold firm inside walls of guilt,
clouds will remain forever without rain
until we allow today’s dream of tomorrow
to hasten forgiveness of yesterday.